Persona

Your "persona" is who you are in the pre-1600 time period. As you start to select an SCA name, you may want to think about where it's from (geographically and what exact era) and what that name means to you. Creating a persona can deepen your chances for historical research and enrich how you play the SCA game.

Persona Basics

Very simply, a persona is a concept that grounds you in history. Pick a time period and a place, such as 14th-century Florence, Italy. Then decide your occupation -- this may or may not be an actual job, it could be your class or station in life.

For example, in 14th-century Florence, you might be of the merchant class, an artist, a banker, or a solider for one of the feuding families in charge.

That's really all you need to have a persona: the time, place, and a concept of what you'd be doing there.

Persona Research

You don't need know everything that ever happened in 14th-century Florence to pretend your persona is from that time and place. But it helps to read up on basics such as who were the rulers, was it a peaceful or turbulent time, and what the clothing looked like.

Then you might expand your reading depending on what your personal interests are. If you're a fighter, look into the military history of that time and place. If you enjoy cooking, research the food. Do you enjoy singing and dancing? Find out about the music.

And try to put each of these topics into the context of your persona's own history. Figure out how you learned to fight, cook, or dance. Did you learn it from your family or through a guild apprenticeship or by working jobs or on the road? This will give depth to your research and helps you be able to talk in persona about your learnings.

How to Use Your Persona

The number one rule is that you should not go around telling people your life's story! That's boring.

But you can let details slip into conversation where relevant. If you're at dinner, comment on how a dish is "just like we have back in Florence -- I did not think I would find this here" or is "very different than what I am used to at home in Florence -- but I enjoy this so much."

If someone compliments you on your costume, instead of talking about how you (or your favourite costumer) made it, tell the admirer about how you traveled from Florence to Venice especially to purchase the silk.

Persona exists to aid in story-telling and to help us escape from the modern world. Use it judiciously.

Links to Help Build Your Persona

Academy of Saint Gabriel -- Group that researches period names and heraldry. Useful when you're choosing a name and device.

An Tir Persona Worksheet - Very in-depth list of questions to ask yourself about your persona.

Cunnan Persona -- A tongue-in-cheek cheatsheet for persona development.

Concerning a Dream -- A short essay on why persona matters in the SCA.

See Also

Talking in Persona -- Easy tips for bringing your persona to life at SCA events.